§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the second time."—( Mr. William Henry Smith.)
§ MR. ASSHETONobjected to the Bill, which required re-consideration, especially in regard to the provisions for weeding out useless records. It neither provided against the destruction of valuable documents in the weeding of the present accumulation of the public records; nor, on the other hand, did it provide against future accumulations by the exclusion of such documents as were useless. For instance, the captain of every ship had to send in five copies of the log-book of every voyage he made, whereas one ought to be sufficient. He had a further objection to the measure on the ground that documents would be destroyed under its provisions without any veto of Parliament. It was true that certain rules were to be laid on the Table, and if not objected to within 40 days they were to have the force of law, but every hon. Member knew that in balloting it was very difficult to obtain a day for taking an objection before that time passed.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, that the Bill had been carefully considered by a Select Committee of the House of Lords. It had two objects—the preservation of all useful records, and the best means of making the enormous mass of public records available for public purposes. It was, of course, unnecessary that five copies of every log-book should be de—posited at the Record Office and he 1634 would take care that before Committee the suggestions which his hon. Friend had made should be carefully considered by the Government and the Master of the Rolls.
Question put, and agreed to.
Bill read a second time, and committed for Monday next.